When I looked up, I found none other than my childhood sweetheart, Hugh Stone.
Hugh was the president of the Stone Consortium, a true figure at the very top of the pyramid. His company's assets had far surpassed the Lawrence Group.
He strode straight toward me, his tall figure casting a shadow that nearly engulfed me.
“Victoria,” his voice was low and steady, “I've come to take you away.”
There were no empty words of comfort, just a simple statement, yet it brought a long-lost sense of security.
Thomas's expression instantly darkened. He strode forward, blocking the space between Hugh and me.
“Mr. Stone, Victoria is my wife. She needs rest and won't be going anywhere. Please don't interfere in our family affairs.”
Hugh didn’t even look at him. He simply helped me to get out of bed and set me into a wheelchair.
"Hugh!" Thomas's voice rose. “By what right are you taking her away?”
"Victoria, so you've already found a new man? Are you this eager? This shameless?”
Before I could react, a sharp thud rang out.
Thud!
Hugh turned around abruptly and slammed a punch on Thomas's jaw. The force was so great that Thomas staggered and fell backwards, hitting the wall with a cry of pain. Blood immediately appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Hugh shook his fist and towered over the disheveled Thomas.
"Thomas, this punch is for Victoria. If I hear another word of insult from your mouth, I won’t hesitate to show the Crawford Family what it means to be destroyed!"
Thomas's face turned from red to white. Meanwhile, my father, who had been so aggressive to me before, was cowering to the side at this moment, too afraid to speak.
Just then, the sound of hurried high heels echoed through the room. My stepmother, Joan's mother, rushed in.
“Wait! You can't leave!” She grabbed the armrest of my wheelchair. “I've arranged everything. Joan will have her bone marrow transplantation tomorrow. You absolutely cannot leave!”
I lifted my eyes and slowly brushed her hand off the armrest.
“What surgery?” My voice was unnaturally calm. “I don’t agree.”
“What?” my stepmother shrieked. “What do you mean you don’t agree? She’s your sister!”
I looked into her eyes and said word by word, “I have entrusted the Stone Consortium's legal department and private investigators to re-investigate my car accident.”
The color drained from her face. Terror and panic flashed in her eyes. “What nonsense are you spouting? It was an accident. The police closed the case. Victoria, have you lost your mind?”
Her panic and loss of composure were starkly obvious to everyone present. Even my father looked with suspicion and disbelief.
Hugh personally pushed my wheelchair. “Let's go.”
I hadn't expected that the moment I arrived at the Stone family villa to recuperate, Thomas would follow close behind.
I watched him standing rigidly in the pouring rain, his gaze filled with a near-obsessive plea. And I knew all of it was for Joan.
Hugh sat next to me. His eyes were deep and serious. “Should we let him in, or have someone escort him out?”
I watched Thomas in the rain in silence. If this were the past, his posture might have softened my heart. But now, I only felt truly disgusted.
“If we make a scene now, the media will be on it, and this won't benefit me in reclaiming the Lawrence family. Six more days. I need time, and I also need Joan’s medical records. Without solid evidence, I can’t expose their lies.”
I analyzed the pros and cons calmly. Hugh’s appearance had successfully saved me from the hospital and spared me from being forced into surgery, but the road ahead, I would have to walk it myself.
Hugh was silent for a moment. Then he gently patted the top of my head and sighed. “Do what you need to do. Just remember—the entire Stone Consortium stands behind you. Six days from now, no matter the outcome, I’ll come for you.”
I nodded and walked toward Thomas. “I'll go back with you. I'm willing to donate to save Joan.”
Thomas's eyes flashed with disbelief.
"But the Stone Consortium's doctors have examined me. My health is too poor right now. They said I need at least six days of rest and observation before a bone marrow transplant can proceed.”
Six days—the exact timeframe for the “Seven-Day Plan” to be finalized.
Hardly without hesitation, Thomas nodded. “Alright, I'll do whatever you say. As long as you're willing to go back and save Joan, I'll do anything!”
I stared coldly at the man before me, who was pleading desperately for my stepsister's sake.
A cold smile touched my lips.
Thomas, I hope you will still be able to smile in the end.
